Jar-lifter.



G. W, FERDON.

MR LIFTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUGAB, 1917.

1,266, 1 12. Patented May 14, 1918.

TE STATES GUY W. FERDON, OF GRESSKILL, NEW JERSEY.

JAR-LIFTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1918.

Application filed August 16, 1917. Serial No. 186,482.

- tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to, make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in ar lifters, and is especially designed for lifting jars of fruit or other food products which'are to be sterilized or canned or put up, into or out of boiling water or other sterilizing agent.

In the operation of canning, particularly when performed in the ordinary domestic kitchen, it is common to heat a number of jars; that is, to have them immersed up to their necks in boiling water while the fruit to be preserved is put in them and cooked or sterilized in such receptacles, which are sealed while the contents are still hot, and thus are preserved in sterile air-tight condition.

It is necessary to lift these jars out while they are still hot. Various frames for bold ing a number of jars have been invented, but my invention is a clamp or device which is handy and dependable, and can be used to lift out. a single jar at a time'without danger to the jar or to the operator, and with the greatest ease. It is simple, cheap and effective; and will fit most all the jars in common use for canning purposes, as well as clamp and withdraw the ordinary tin can, used by some instead of glass jars. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing the device attached to a jar;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved lifter; v

Fig. 3 is a perspective showing my device as used on a jar having a wire clamp; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a slightly modified form of my device.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates my jar lifter as a whole. This consists of a continuous wire bent as shown into two strands, having a handle 2 with a loop 3 at the top, and bent to horizontally forwardly projecting narrowing parts 4. The wires are here bent to form the clamping jaws 5 at a suitable angle to the plane of the handle. This angle is generally a right angle. The part 4 offsets the handle so that a slight leverage is afforded in removing the lifter from a jar.

These jaws are bent to about the curvature of the neck of an ordinary preserving jar, say, of the Mason type, such jars being usually provided with a bead or groove below the threaded part; but the lifter will also work on those jars which have a wire device for clamping down the glass top.

union;

The ends of the jaws preferably do not come quite together, leaving an opening 6, though this opening may be closed. I may also provide an adjustable clamp, and I may insert a coil, indicated at the dotted lines at 8, at the turn of the handles. The ends of the jaws 5 may terminate in upwardly or outwardly bent curved portions 9, as shown. As seen in Fig. 4. these may be omitted.

My device is made of a single piece of rather heavy wire, say wire of 8 or 10 gage. and-stiff enough when bent to hold a full jar without danger. The bend of the loop.

may be made more sharp and the clamping action thus increased. The hand and all fingers of the operator, or finger and thumb, may assist the clamping action. I

prefer to have the clamp firm enough to hold the jar, yet sufiiciently loose to yield to a sharp pull, leaving the jar in place.

I prefer to have the ends of the handle or upright part quite close, so that a finger of the operator may be thrust between t spread them as indicated at 12.

I may also use my clamp to suspend a jar from a nail, either for storage or to serve for a transient container. I have indicated such a nail at 13. A pint jar thus arranged near a gas stove makes a safe and excellent receiver for burnt matches. For campers, too, this affords an excellent means for'suspending food-stuffs, liquids, etc, out of the way of insects or marauding animals. I may use two of my lifters, the second indicated at 14: in dotted lines, and this may serve as a means for suspending a jar to be used, say, as a well bucket. I

My device is capable of many uses, but

its primary use is that of a jar lifter. In

using the device for this purpose, I thrust the clamp part smartly down'over the top of a fruit ,jar. The clamps snap into place. I may leave it as long as I please. I lift the jar out when I am ready, by grasping firmly the upper portion of the handle, pinching it together as far as may be necessary to make a firm clamp on the neck of the jar; and release the ,deyice by giving a quick tug and twist, these operations being assisted, it need be, by the finger of the operator in the manner indicated.

What I claim as new, and desire to-secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a jar lifter, in combination, avertically arranged handle consisting of two strands of wire, an elastic loop connecting said strands and forming the upper part of said handle, the lower ends of said strands forming the lower part of said handle bestrands of wire, an elastic loop connecting said wires and forming. the upper part of said handle, the lower ends of said strands forming the lower part of said handle 'be ing angularly inclined and approaching each other, ofiset portions extending forward from said handle, and forming continuations of said strands, said parts so extending :t'orward being substantially parallel and horizontal, forwardly extending curved jaws forming continuations of said forwardly extending portions, said gaws terminating near each other in upturned parts,

the clamping action being referable. to the loop.

3. A gar lifter consisting of a single piece of. elastic wire bent in two strands to forni an upright spring handle, the lower parts of said handle being inclined to each other slightly and approaching each other closer than the width of a finger, a continuation of said strands forming parallel horizontal ex tensions and semicircular jar clamping jaws, adapted to clamp the neck ofa jar under pressure of said elastic handle and to be re-' leased by finger pressure within said handle.

4. In a jar lifter, in combination, a vertically arranged handle consisting of two strands of wire, an elastic loop connecting tions of the said strands, said parts so extending forward being substantially parallel and horizontal, and forwardly extending curved jaws forming continuations of said forwardly extending portions.

5. in a jar lifter, in combination, a vertically arranged handle consisting of two strands of wire, an elastic loop connecting said wires and forming the upper part of said handle, the lower ends of said strands forming the lower part of said handle being angularly inclined and approaching each other, ofiset portions extending forward from said handle, and forming continuations of said strands, said parts so extending forward being substantially parallel and horizontal, jaws forming continuations of said forwardly extending portions, said clamps terminating near each other in upturned parts.

6. A jar lifter consisting of a single piece of elastic wire bent in two strands to form an upright spring handle, the lower parts of said handle being inclined to each other slightlyand approaching each other closer than the width of a finger, the continuation of said strands forming parallel horizontal extensions and semicircular jar clamping jaws, adapted to clamp the neckof a jar under pressure of said elastic handle and to be released by finger pressure within said handle.

in testimony whereof, I afix my signature.

GUY FERDON.

forwardly extending curved.

,from said handle, and forming continua- 

